Windows XP instability/freezing

[anojjona]

I wonder if anyone has ever seen this symptom before and knows how to
troubleshoot it.

In Windows XP (MCE), I frequently have a problem where a program
freezes, and this freezing bleeds into every other program until the
whole system is frozen. I've tried to figure out a pattern to it; it
seems more likely to happen if I try to do one thing when something
else isn't finished (e.g., open a web page and then another web page
or program, or open a web page and mouse-over the task bar, etc.). It
can happen within a few minutes of booting up, when very few programs
are open and not much memory is being used, or later on when more
programs are open.

Typically, the one program will get "stuck"...for example, a button
may appear "pushed," and it doesn't go any further. Then, any other
program I go to afterwards tends to also get the "freeze," especially
if I try to close it. Sometimes, some software may work...for
example, if I have Remote Desktop open, I can continue to work on the
remote machine for awhile. Almost always, the Start menu, task bar,
and Task Manager are among the first things to go. If Task Manager is
still working, it generally fails as soon as I force quit one of the
programs that aren't responding. In this state, it is impossible to
shut down normally, and the only thing that works is to power-down.

I have already repaired the installation (as it wouldn't start up
before at all), updated the Windows update installer, and installed
updates.

Another problem is that the machine always freezes if I try to put it
on standby or hybernate. Shutdown goes through the "saving settings"
and "shutting down" phases and then ends on a plain blue screen with
no text, so I have to power down manually at that point.

 

[Malke]

I wonder if anyone has ever seen this symptom before and knows how to
troubleshoot it.

In Windows XP (MCE), I frequently have a problem where a program
freezes, and this freezing bleeds into every other program until the
whole system is frozen. I've tried to figure out a pattern to it; it
seems more likely to happen if I try to do one thing when something
else isn't finished (e.g., open a web page and then another web page
or program, or open a web page and mouse-over the task bar, etc.). It
can happen within a few minutes of booting up, when very few programs
are open and not much memory is being used, or later on when more
programs are open.

Typically, the one program will get "stuck"...for example, a button
may appear "pushed," and it doesn't go any further. Then, any other
program I go to afterwards tends to also get the "freeze," especially
if I try to close it. Sometimes, some software may work...for
example, if I have Remote Desktop open, I can continue to work on the
remote machine for awhile. Almost always, the Start menu, task bar,
and Task Manager are among the first things to go. If Task Manager is
still working, it generally fails as soon as I force quit one of the
programs that aren't responding. In this state, it is impossible to
shut down normally, and the only thing that works is to power-down.

I have already repaired the installation (as it wouldn't start up
before at all), updated the Windows update installer, and installed
updates.

Another problem is that the machine always freezes if I try to put it
on standby or hybernate. Shutdown goes through the "saving settings"
and "shutting down" phases and then ends on a plain blue screen with
no text, so I have to power down manually at that point.

Since I don't know anything about your computer's specs or its recent
history, here are some general troubleshooting suggestions:

1. Look in Event Viewer for clues. Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]

2. Answer The First Question of Troubleshooting: what changed between the
time things worked and the time they didn't?

3. If you recently installed some hardware/software/updated drivers
(referencing #2 above), reverse that change.

4. Random lockups are most often caused by failing hardware. It could be
overheating, bad RAM, bad power supply, bad hard drive, etc. You have to do
systematic hardware troubleshooting.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are
just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;
suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my
suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. Testing hardware failures often
involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good parts. If you can't
do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable opening your computer,
take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local
equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data
backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke

 

[anojjona]

I wonder if anyone has ever seen this symptom before and knows how to
troubleshoot it.

In Windows XP (MCE), I frequently have a problem where a program
freezes, and this freezing bleeds into every other program until the
whole system is frozen.  I've tried to figure out a pattern to it; it
seems more likely to happen if I try to do one thing when something
else isn't finished (e.g., open a web page and then another web page
or program, or open a web page and mouse-over the task bar, etc.).  It
can happen within a few minutes of booting up, when very few programs
are open and not much memory is being used, or later on when more
programs are open.

Typically, the one program will get "stuck"...for example, a button
may appear "pushed," and it doesn't go any further.  Then, any other
program I go to afterwards tends to also get the "freeze," especially
if I try to close it.  Sometimes, some software may work...for
example, if I have Remote Desktop open, I can continue to work on the
remote machine for awhile.  Almost always, the Start menu, task bar,
and Task Manager are among the first things to go.  If Task Manager is
still working, it generally fails as soon as I force quit one of the
programs that aren't responding.  In this state, it is impossible to
shut down normally, and the only thing that works is to power-down.

I have already repaired the installation (as it wouldn't start up
before at all), updated the Windows update installer, and installed
updates.

Another problem is that the machine always freezes if I try to put it
on standby or hybernate.  Shutdown goes through the "saving settings"
and "shutting down" phases and then ends on a plain blue screen with
no text, so I have to power down manually at that point.

Since I don't know anything about your computer's specs or its recent
history, here are some general troubleshooting suggestions:

1. Look in Event Viewer for clues. Start>Run>eventvwr.msc [enter]

2. Answer The First Question of Troubleshooting: what changed between the
time things worked and the time they didn't?

3. If you recently installed some hardware/software/updated drivers
(referencing #2 above), reverse that change.

4. Random lockups are most often caused by failing hardware. It could be
overheating, bad RAM, bad power supply, bad hard drive, etc. You have to do
systematic hardware troubleshooting.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these are
just suggestions based on many years of being a professional computer tech;
suggestions based on what you've written. You should not take my
suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. Testing hardware failures often
involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good parts. If you can't
do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable opening your computer,
take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not your local
equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have all your data
backed up before you take the machine into a shop.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computerswww.elephantboycomputers.com
Don't Panic!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I generally see a lot of
informational messages in the EventLog that correlate to the times
when I start up, but not to the times when it freezes. But I'll keep
checking. Is there any better log of what's going on that Windows
does, or is that it?

A little more background on the problem:

The freezing used to occur only occasionally (instead of on average
every 15-20 minutes, like now), and used to happen only when I had a
lot of stuff open and was using virtual memory, so I didn't worry
about it. After having to power down following one of these freezes,
I was unable to get it to start up (IRQL_NOT_LET_OR_EQUAL stop
error). I took it to a repair shop...probably in the category of "big
computer store plus Geek squad" as you say....but how does one tell
the difference between a good repair shop and a bad one?

They did a hardware checkup, and they said that the hardware was fine
and that the problem must therefore be software. Since I'm on travel
and don't have all my software disks with me, I asked them to repair
the installation, as the only option Vaio gives is to restore the
computer to factory condition (no Windows disk was included with
Vaio). They did the repair, and it started up fine, but didn't shut
down. I couldn't install automatic updates, but I read an article on
Microsoft's site that said to reinstall the Windows updater if
automatic updates don't install after repairing Windows from the CD.
I did that, and then the Windows updates installed. There were about
90+ security updates. I think the freezing got much worse after
installing the Microsoft XP security updates, but I don't want to roll
them back and not install them, because that might be a security risk.

One other thing I noticed: The freezing seems to be more likely to
occur if I'm doing something with a browser. It doesn't matter if
it's IE or Firefox; they can both cause it to happen.

 

[Malke]

(e-mail address removed) wrote:

Comments inline:

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I generally see a lot of
informational messages in the EventLog that correlate to the times
when I start up, but not to the times when it freezes. But I'll keep
checking. Is there any better log of what's going on that Windows
does, or is that it?

No, you would want to be looking in Event Viewer. Not seeing anything
specific for the times when your machine logs up makes me think of
hardware, but see further down.

The freezing used to occur only occasionally (instead of on average
every 15-20 minutes, like now), and used to happen only when I had a
lot of stuff open and was using virtual memory, so I didn't worry
about it. After having to power down following one of these freezes,
I was unable to get it to start up (IRQL_NOT_LET_OR_EQUAL stop
error). I took it to a repair shop...probably in the category of "big
computer store plus Geek squad" as you say....but how does one tell
the difference between a good repair shop and a bad one?

If the lockups are getting worse, this would tend to point to failing
hardware. Software faults usually aren't random and don't get more
frequent. The IRQL_NOT_LET_OR _EQUAL Stop Error usually points to bad
drivers (software), but it can also mean bad hardware.

So the first thing I'd do is update all drivers. Since you have a laptop,
get the drivers only from the laptop mftr.'s tech support website for your
specific model machine. Test afterwards. If that solves the issue, great.

They did a hardware checkup, and they said that the hardware was fine
and that the problem must therefore be software. Since I'm on travel
and don't have all my software disks with me, I asked them to repair
the installation, as the only option Vaio gives is to restore the
computer to factory condition (no Windows disk was included with
Vaio). They did the repair, and it started up fine, but didn't shut
down. I couldn't install automatic updates, but I read an article on
Microsoft's site that said to reinstall the Windows updater if
automatic updates don't install after repairing Windows from the CD.
I did that, and then the Windows updates installed. There were about
90+ security updates. I think the freezing got much worse after
installing the Microsoft XP security updates, but I don't want to roll
them back and not install them, because that might be a security risk.

I'm skeptical of any "tech support" given by a GeekSquad type of place. I'm
sorry but I've seen the results of work done by these folks and it's not a
pretty sight. So I wouldn't rely on their findings. Of course you were out
of town so you were stuck, but you may want to take the machine to a good
shop once you are back home. Most people I know find good help via word of
mouth - asking family, friends, colleagues. Of course there's no 100%
guarantee, but this is just as applicable to picking a doctor or a hair
dresser as it is to picking a good computer tech.

One other thing I noticed: The freezing seems to be more likely to
occur if I'm doing something with a browser. It doesn't matter if
it's IE or Firefox; they can both cause it to happen.

Although I'm really leaning towards it being either the drivers for your
network adapters (wired, wireless depending on how you connect) or the
network adapter hardware itself, you should make sure your computer is
virus/malware-free so you're working from a clean base.

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

Another way to determine if the issue is hardware or software would be to
either:

1. Boot the computer with a Linux Live CD such as Knoppix or Ubuntu. If the
machine behaves beautifully under Linux, then you know the issue is being
caused by software (drivers, probably). If the machine misbehaves under the
different operating system, it has to be hardware.

2. Back up your data (which you should do in any case) and restore the
machine to factory condition by whatever method Sony provided. If the
machine still has the issue, it's hardware.

Hopefully this will give you a troubleshooting path.

Malke

 

[w_tom]

They did a hardware checkup, and they said that the hardware was fine
and that the problem must therefore be software. Since I'm on travel
and don't have all my software disks with me, I asked them to repair
the installation, as the only option Vaio gives is to restore the
computer to factory condition (no Windows disk was included with
Vaio). They did the repair, and it started up fine, but didn't shut
down. I couldn't install automatic updates, but I read an article on
Microsoft's site that said to reinstall the Windows updater if
automatic updates don't install after repairing Windows from the CD.
I did that, and then the Windows updates installed. There were about
90+ security updates. I think the freezing got much worse after
installing the Microsoft XP security updates, but I don't want to roll
them back and not install them, because that might be a security risk.

Everything posted implies hardware. But since specific facts are
not posted, then specific answers are not possible. For example, -
event viewer. You don't even say if those events are problem reports
or just normal reports.

Also important is status in Device Manager.

If he told you hardware is OK and did not list why, then hardware is
still unknown. If you don't understand what he says, then he should
provide it in writing so that others can provide that so important
information. Based upon what was posted, assume the guy only tested
what he understood. Therefore hardware remains unknown. Hardware
must be retested.

Is you computer manufacturer responsible? Then provided are
comprehensive hardware diagnostics. Execute them. Then repeat those
diagnostics with the computer in a much warmer environment - about 100
degree F. Higher temperatures are pig happy temperatures to every
good computer but immediately identify defective hardware.

If your computer manufacture is not responsible, then download
diagnostics for relevant components from their manufacturers or from
third parties. Your suspect list includes video display, sound card,
some of the memory, power supply, some motherboard components, and
CPU. Not on your list of suspects include disk drive, keyboard,
mouse, video display, cd-rom, etc.